Shop Local for a Good Cause at More Than Words Waltham

Whether it's the holiday season or any season, More Than Words Waltham offers an opportunity to shop local and help local youth.

More Than Words was established as an online bookseller in 2004 designed to provide training and job experience to young people in DCF custody. They opened their first brick-and-mortar location on Moody St. in Waltham the following year. They've since moved to 56 Felton St. in Waltham and boast an even bigger location at 242 East Berkeley St. in Boston.

Their mission has expanded, too. Currently, the organization works with youth ages 16 to 24 who are out of school, in the foster care system, court-involved, involved with the Department of Mental Health, parenting, or homeless. These young people are given paid jobs to build skills, enrolled in a youth development and life skills curriculum, and set on a sustainable path to a living wage.

I'd known about More Than Words for years and even donated to them on Giving Tuesday. I'd never visited one of their locations, though. I decided to take care of that recently and take care of some holiday shopping. I'm a big reader and book collector--something that runs in my entire family--so I'm always game to visit a local bookstore. More Than Words is so much more than that.

I found books, new and used. I flipped through a stack of used records. I picked up unique gifts like locally-made spices and candles for folks on my holiday list. All the while, the back room was abuzz with hard-working young people, stocking and organizing. Oh, and their collection of books by writers of color was diverse.

Read more about the mission of More Than Words here. And please, make time to pay either location a visit this holiday season. Or any season! And if you can't make it, shop online. An outstanding selection of books and gifts, a mission that gives local, system-involved youth experience, purpose, and hope. That's what it's all about, no matter what time of year it is.

It's Adam 12 with another list of 12. This one's for Giving Tuesday 2023 and I hope it will inspire some generosity.

I've rounded up a whole bunch of causes and charities that are near and dear to my heart. For example, I love the outdoors. And I’m a firm believer that protecting the planet is priority number one, especially nowadays. If your house is on fire, you put that fire out before you do anything else, right? So I’m doing what I can with my time and my money to support national organizations that are doing the important work to keep green spaces green and to advocate for the planet.

I’m also a big believer in neighborhood and community. I’m of the mind that if more of us took more of an interest in what’s going on in our own cities and towns, we’d all be better off. You may or may not remember that during the height of the pandemic I spearheaded Free Food Friday. Every week, I’d spotlight a local food pantry or food bank that was doing the work to keep kids and families fed in the Commonwealth. You'll find a few of those below.

I hope you'll feel moved to give to some of these groups. I encourage you, though, to find those in your own back yard so that you can do the good work of helping out your neighbors in need.

Now? My list. 12 organizations, both local and national, that I will be giving my money to on this Giving Tuesday. Hopefully you’ll pick a few and do the same. And hopefully you’ll take the Giving Tuesday spirit and carry it with you throughout the year. Once you get in the habit of giving a little bit a few times a year, you'll see good things start to happen.

ABCD is part of the Community Action Network. The ABCD Winter Fund supports underserved people in Boston, Everett, Malden, and Medford with warm clothes, food, and toys for the holidays.

Donate here.

The BRM offers resources combat addiction and to prevent and end homelessness. Help feed the homeless this holiday season.

Donate here.

BGC Woburn has been a home-away-from-home for my kids since before they were in school. And my oldest works for the Stoneham & Wakefield BGC. If you’re lucky enough to have a Boys & Girls Club in your neighborhood,  you are blessed indeed. Find yours or donate to one of mine!

Donate here.

Based in Woburn, the Council of Social Concern is a charitable, community-based agency, responding to the basic needs of people of all ages. They offer early childhood education, a food pantry and more to the surrounding community.

Donate here.

Everyone knows the GBFB; they do so much good. It doesn't take much money to make a difference, as you can see.

Donate here.

Based in Salem, the North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ Youth provides programing and a safe space for LGBTQIA+ across the north shore and beyond.

Donate here.

I’ve been a Mass Audubon member for years and taken advantage of the many wonderful outdoor spaces they protect and maintain. And they're making great strides at making the outdoors accessible to all.

Donate here.

Northeast ARC does wonders for people with disabilities and their families. I’m a member of their Autism Dad’s Group and can speak from experience about the amazing work they do.

Donate here.

PYD is all about empowering youth across all disabilities. Their workshops have been a crucial resource to my family, and the work they do is vital.

Donate here.

The Massachusetts Sierra Club has been knocking out of the park lately, advancing policy to protect the planet both locally and nationally.

Donate here.

I can’t even find the words to tell you how The Story School has changed my 15-yr-old’s life. Story-based STEM education and the greatest summer camp ever.

Donate here.

TPL isn’t just protecting land from development in the far reaches of America. They’re protecting land in our own backyards.

Donate here.